Visual Pursuit in Trap Shooting

An Experiment by James J. Terapane

Saint Anselm College

Abstract

    The focus of this experiment is on the strategies used in visual tracking of moving objects, in particular, the subject’s visual fields in pursuit of moving target.  Subjects were observed while trap shooting, subjects were asked to attempt to shoot a clay disc out of the air using a shotgun.  The experiment asks if visual pursuit of the target along its path predicts success in hitting the target.  Subjects experience prior to the experiment ranged from no experience to expert status in trap shooting.  Experiment also asks if visual pursuit can be learned.